Memphis World Trade Club Social Media Policy
1. Purpose of this Policy. This Social Media Policy is intended to provide rules that regulate the Club’s use of social media accounts and policies that guide the information disseminated through those accounts. One objective of the Club is to provide a forum for its members to network with each other and make members aware of who the members are and what they do.
2. Social Media Accounts. The Club maintains the following social media accounts, though the list may be changed from time to time with the Board of Directors’ approval:
a. Facebook
b. Twitter
c. LinkedIn
d. Website
3. Duties of the Secretary. The Secretary is responsible for maintaining the Club’s social media accounts and other communications. In meeting these responsibilities, the Secretary will do as follows.
a. Club Activities. The Secretary will post links and original articles on Social Media relating to the Club’s activities, especially with regard to luncheon presentations, the Port of New Orleans Tour, Port Night, the Christmas Party, the Golf Tournament, and scholarship awards.
b. Members. The Secretary will post links and original articles on social media relating to the Club’s membership. The Secretary will regularly search news articles for references to its membership and will, from time to time, draft or solicit original content.
c. Significant Events. The Secretary will post links and original articles on Social Media relating to international trade, logistics, and other information relevant to the business interests of the Club’s membership. Both world events (port strikes, adoption of international treaties, etc.) and local events (actions of the City Counsel and Chamber of Commerce, events that impact local logistics infrastructure, etc.) can have a significant impact on the business interests of the Club’s membership.
d. Ensure Compliance. The Secretary will ensure that the information disseminated on social media comports with the Club’s desires, as discussed in Paragraph 4 below.
e. Limit Access. The Secretary will ensure that (other than herself/himself), only Directors are allowed administrator privileges to any social media accounts.
f. Frequency. The Secretary will update the various social media accounts regularly in order to gain and maintain the Club’s relevance on social media. The Secretary will post as frequently as information becomes available.
4. Areas of Concern.
a. Political Posturing. The Secretary will endeavor to avoid social media disseminations that would lead a reasonable reader to believe that the Club has adopted a particular position with regard to a political issue. The Secretary will consider disclaimers where appropriate (e.g. on Twitter: “Retweets are not endorsements.”) Board approval is required before posting any original content that explicitly adopts a particular political position.
b. Information that Unfairly Benefits One Member over Another. The Secretary will be mindful when posting links or articles discussing a member that she/he has given other members in the same business a similar opportunity. The Secretary will solicit information from the entire membership in anticipation of publishing any original content.
c. Information that Harms a Member. The Secretary will refrain from posting any content that could directly harm the business or reputation of any member or that could cause embarrassment to a member.
d. Information that Harms the Club’s Brand, Reputation, or Good Will. The Secretary will refrain from posting content that could harm the Club’s brand, reputation, and good will. More specifically (but without limiting the foregoing), the Secretary will maintain an objective and professional demeanor when posting content, and will not post content that is sarcastic, inflammatory, politically incorrect, derisive, embarrassing, or otherwise in bad taste.
5. Delegation of Responsibilities.
a. Social Media Manager. The Secretary may delegate the responsibilities discussed in this Policy to another person (a “Social Media Manager”). This person must (a) have Board approval, (b) be a member of the Club, (c) be reasonably competent using various social media platforms, and (d) express a commitment to fulfilling the duties described in this Policy. Regardless of the delegation, the Secretary will bear ultimate responsibility for the social media communications, as well as other responsibilities described in the Bylaws.
b. Term. The Social Media Manager, will serve in that role until she/he resigns or is replaced or removed by the Board of Directors.
Reviewed and approved by current Secretary
April 2nd, 2024